Web feeding apparatus for collating machines



March 22, 1949. R. w. RITZERT 5, 7

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLA TING' MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1945 INVE NTOR ROBERT W. Rn 1021' BY ATTORNEYS March 22, 1949. R. w. RlTZERT 2,465,267

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES l0 Sheets-Sheet, 3

Filed May 9. 1945 INVENTOR ROBERT W. RITZERT ATTORNEYS March 22, 1949. R. w. RITZERT 2,465,267

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES Filed May 9. 1945 10 Shets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EBOBERT W. RnzERT ATTORNEYS archZZ, 1949. R. w. RITZERT 2,465,267 WEB FEEDING- APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1945 XNVENTOR 8 Y E N R O T T A 22, 1949. R. w. RITZERT 2,465,267

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES Filed May 9, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR B 5085/17 W R ITZERT Jul. 3]

ATTORY March 22, .1949. Y W. ,RITZERT 2,455,267

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES Filed May 9, 1945, 10 sheets-sheet '7 INVENTOR fioamrw R/TZERT BY ATTORNEYS March 22, 1949. R. w. RITZERT 2,465,267

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES 1O Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 9, 1945 w W F L Jll 1 4 7 A w w 8 W3 5 1 w A INVENTOR ROBERT W RITZERT BY MM... 2%.. ATTORNEYS March 22, 1949. R. w. RITZERT WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES Filed ,May 9, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Ropmr W. RITZERT,

W mm

ATTORNEYS March 22, 1949. R. w. RITZERT ,4

WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed May 9, 1945 LE3 K INVENTOR ROBERT WRH'lERT Patented Mar. 22, 1949 WEB FEEDING APPARATUS FOR COLLATING MACHINES Robert W. Ritzert, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Egry Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 9,1945, Serial No. 592,834

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to collating machines, and particularly to a mechanism for moving collated webs in predetermined increments and cause severance of the collated webs at predetermined intervals whereby to produce multiple copy form sets.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for collating a plurality of continuous paper webs in such a manner that a carbon paper web is positioned between copy paper webs and are subsequently glued together so as to produce a multiple copy form set for simultaneously producing multiple copies of inscribed information.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for advancing the copy and carbon paper webs intermittently in determined increments equal to the form length desired for aligning the various form faces on the multiple webs while causing adherence between the copy and carbon paper webs, and to subsequently sever the webs in predetermined lengths for providing individual multiple copy form sets.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for feeding and aligning a plurality of paper webs by mechanical means which engages the webs and advances them a predetermined distance as controlled by a mechanical stop which prevents overfeeding of the webs at each feeding cycle of the machine. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanism for a plurality of paper webs wherein they are moved by means of an intermittently operated chain which is accurately controlled as to the length of each movement of the chain by means of a releasable mechanical stop which prevents any overieeding of the webs by the intermittently moving chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism for the feeding mechanism of a collating machine wherein the means which removes the webs from the supply rolls can be driven at any desired speed and the speed thereof be readily changeable so as to maintain a satisfactory slack looped condition between the means which withdraws the webs from the supply rolls and the feeding and gluing mechanism of the collating machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the individual tension applied upon each of the webs passing through the collating machine so that all of the webs can be maintained under substantially the same tension when passing through the feeding mechanism so as to permit proper accurate alignment of the form faces on the co-cperating webs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism for a paper web to advance the same in predetermined increments of length wherein a positive lock is provided to prevent overthrow of the feeding mechanism at the end of the feeding stroke thereof, and which locking mechanism is readily tripped to permit a subsequent feeding operation to occur.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved stacking mechanism for receiving lengths of the paper web as severed from the continuous length thereof during operation of the collating machine so as to arrange the sheets in aligned stacks.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collating machine, or web feeding apparatus, constructed in accordance with any of the foregoing objects, wherein a paper web fed through the machine is severed longitudinally in order to provide two separate forms from a single continuous web, and wherein the gluing mechanism of the machine is arranged so as to cause adherence between the adjacent webs passing through the machine in a manner that the severance of the web can occur between parallel glue lines whereby the pairs of webs formed by the severance will be secured together by glue lines running along one edge thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an intermittently advancing chain drive for feeding a paper web through a machine in predetermined increments, and to provide latch means for positively stopping the chain in a predetermined position during each intermittent advancing movement, which latching means can be readily tripped upon release thereof and initation of a subsequent advancing movement of the feed chain.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a collating machine wherein a plurality of paper webs pass through a gluing station, through an aligning and feeding mechanism, and thence through a severing device for passage into a stacking mechanism, the stacking mechanism being driven by and synchronized with the operation of the gluing mechanism whereby the stacking mechanism operates when the gluing and feeding mechanisms are idle.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and the following description.

In the drawings:

position of the mechanism during advancing movement of the chain.

Figure 4 is a perspective elevational view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the latching mechanism in operation when the feed chain has been stopped in its advancing movement.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating the roller feed mechanism of the machine for withdrawing the paper web from a supply roll.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken along the line I-'l of Figure 1 illustrating the driving mechanism for the machine.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-5 of Figure 7 illustrating the variable speed drive pulley for changin the speed of operation of the machine.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the driving mechanism for the gluing devices of the machine.

Figure 10 is a partial view of the machine illustrating glue devices of the machine for applying glue lines to the paper webs as they pass through the machine.

Figure 11 is an elevational view, partially in perspective, illustrating a multiple copy form set that is produced on the machine of this inven tion.

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view through a part of the gluing mechanism of the machine illustrating the manner in which the paper webs move through the mechanism.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 12 illustrating the manner in which the gluing mechanism can be opened for threading the paper webs through the gluing mechanism.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the gluing mechanism illustrating a sprocket wheel and chain drive for the mechanism, which is a modified form of drive from that illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view of the tension control device for the paper webs taken substantially along line l5!'5 of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view of the adjusting mechanism for the tension control devices and is taken along line Iii-l6 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a cross sectional view of the stacking mechanism that receives the paper sheets from the continuous web when severed therefrom.

Figure 18 is a cross sectional view of the stacking mechanism taken along line !8-|8 of Figure 1?.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view of the stacking mechanism taken along line Iii-l9 of Figme 17.

Figure 20 is an enlarged elevational view of the gripping device that engages the paper sheet.

Figure 21 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1 wherein a slittin mechanism has been applied to the machine for slitting the web longitudinally.

Figure 22 is a plan view of the collated paper webs passing through the machine illustrated in Figure 1 with certain portions thereof broken away to illustrate the manner in which the webs are glued together in order to produce two parallel arranged sets of multiple copy form sheets for subsequent severance longitudinally along the web in the manner illustrated in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an elevational view of the slitting mechanism illustrated in Figure 21.

Figure 24 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the brake mechanism for the driving motor.

Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 25-25 of Figure 24.

This invention consists of a feeding mechanism ill for removing webs of paper and carbon from supply rolls, a gluing mechanism 15 through which the paper webs are fed to receive adhesive thereon and an aligning and intermittent feeding mechanism 20 that aligns the collated webs and feeds them in predetermined increments of length, determined by the size of the form to be produced, to a severing mechanism 25 which is intermittently operated to sever the collated webs in predetermined lengths.

The collating machine of this invention is adapted to produce a multiple copy form such as that illustrated in Figure 11 wherein a plurality of copy or paper sheets I I, I2 and I3 have carbon sheets M and IB interleaved therebetwcen so as to simultaneously produce a plurality of carbon copies of data placed upon the top or face sheet II. The paper webs Hand l2 are each provided with a pair of parallel lines of adhesive l7 and It on one face thereof, and specifically on the underside of the respective sheets as illustrated by the turned down upper right-hand corner of the sheet H in Figure 11. The upper line of adhesive I1 is provided for securing adjacent copy or paper webs together along one edge thereof while the adhesive line I8 is provided for securing the carbon sheets [4 and IE to the underside of the paper webs H and I2, respectively. The paper sheets II, 12 and [3 are each provided with a perforation line I!) upon which the forms are severed or torn so that the individual sheets II, l2 and I3 can be removed from the stub end 2! of the form to which the carbon sheets I 4 and IE will be secured.

One or more holes 22 are provided between the lines of adhesive l1 and ill for use as file holes, which are also used to provide alignment between the paper webs when they are being collated in the collating machine.

In. this invention the paper webs and the carbon paper webs are provided in the form of rolls 23 and 24, respectively, that are supported upon a suitable frame structure 26. A sufficient number of rolls of paper or copy webs and carbon paper webs are provided for supplying the collating machine according to the number of copy sheets that are to be provided in the multiple copy form. The paper webs 23a and the carbon paper webs 24a are supplied alternately to the feeding mechanism In to thereby collate and interleave the carbon paper webs between copy paper webs.

Each of the Webs 23a and 24a pass between a pair of feeding rolls 2'! and 28, more particularly shown in Figure 6. The feed roll 28 is drivingly connected to a drive shaft 29 by means of a pair ofbevel gears whereby the roll 28 is positively driven, see Figure 1. The roll 21 is carried upon a frame 3| that is supported upon a pivot shaft 32 supported in the frame structure 33 of the feeding mechanism I 0. The frame 3| urged in a downward direction, see Figure 6, by means of a compression spring 34 retained between a stationary bracket 35 secured to the frame structure 33 and a nut 36 carried upon a pin 31 secured to the frame 3|. The paper or carbon web, as the case may be, is thus frictionally driven by the roll 28, the roll 21 retaining sufiicient compression upon the web for such a friction drive.

A rotatable shaft 38 having an eccentric portion 39 thereon engages the frame 3| to lift the same from the roll 28 for threading the paper or carbon webs between the rolls 2! and 28. A paper bale 40 extends from the frame 3| to permit the paper and carbon Webs to fall vertically in front of the frame structure 33 without interference with one another.

The drive shaft 29 of the feeding mechanism III is driven by the shaft 4| through a pair of bevel gears 42, the shaft 4| being driven by the driving mechanism of the feeding and aligning mechanism 20 in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

From the feeding mechanism I is alternately positioned paper copy webs 23a and carbon paper Webs 24a which pass into the gluing mechanism I5,.more specifically illustrated in Figures 10, 12 and 13.

The gluing mechanism consists of a main frame structure 42 having a plurality of rods 43 extending transversely across the same in parallel arrangement that provides a supporting means for glue pots 44 positioned thereupon. The glue pots are adjustably positioned on the rods 43 to dispose them at any location transversely of the frame structure 42 and thus cause application of glue lines at any position transversely of the paper webs passing thereover. A plurality of guide rolls or rods 45 are also positioned transversely across the frame structure 42 of the gluing mechanism I for guiding the direction of movement of the paper and carbon webs 23a and 24a through the machine.

An auxiliary frame structure 46 is carried above the main structure 42 of the gluing mechanism and is movably carried thereon. by means of the hinge links 41, whereby the auxiliary frame structure 46 may be raised into the position illustrated in Figure 13 when threading the paper and carbon webs through the gluing mechanism I5 or when the machine is shut down over night to prevent the paper webs adhering to the glue rolls in the glue pots 44. The auxiliary frame structure 46 is provided with a plurality of guide rolls or rods 48 that extend transversely across the same for guiding the paper and carbon webs in a collated condition to the aligning and intermittent feeding mechanism 20 hereinafter described. The auxiliary frame 46 also carries a plurality of rolls or rods 49 that engage the paper webs 23a to retain the same in engagement with the glue wheels located in the glue pots 44.

The glue wheels 56, more specifically shown in Figure 10, consist of thin disc members that are mounted in the glue pots 44 upon a drive shaft 5|. The drive shaft 5| is driven by a pair of bevel gears 52 from a common power shaft 53 that in turn is driven by a pair of bevel gears 54 through a drive shaft 55. The drive shaft 55 is drivingly connected to a sprocket chain 56 through a ratchet mechanism 51 for driving the shaft 55 when the chain 56 moves in one direction only in a manner to be hereinafter described in connection with the driving mechanism for the aligning and feeding mechanism 26. The glue wheels 50 are each adapted to provide one line of adhesive on the paper webs 23a so that the lines of adhesive I1 and I8 will be applied along the edge of the paper webs as they pass through the machine.

Tension control devices 60, more specifically shown in Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16, are provided for regulating the tension on the paper and carbon webs 23a and 24a when passing through the gluing mechanism I5 so that there will be a substantially uniform tension on all of the webs passing from the gluing mechanism I5 into the feeding and aligning mechanism 26 for thereby aiding alignment of the webs and preventing any tendency of buckling of the webs when passing through the aligning mechanism 26.

These tension. control devices each consist of a rod 6| that passes transversely across the gluing mechanism I5 and is supported in a frame member 62 provided on each side of the gluing mechanism I5, the frame member 62 being in turn supported by the downwardly extending portions 63 on the frame member 42. The rods 6| are provided with aligning collars 64 between which the paper webs pass for retaining the paper and carbon webs in proper transverse alignment when passing through the gluing mechanism l5 and thus maintain them in alignment when entering the aligning mechanism 26. The collars 64 are adjustable on the rods 66 for independently transversely positioning the webs in the gluing mechanism to thus individually position each of the webs in a predetermined transverse position with respect to the remaining webs so that the carbon webs can be positioned inwardly of the ends of the paper webs whereby to produce the arrangement of form illustrated in Figure 11.

The tension control devices 6|] further consist of a wire bale 65 that is secured at one end thereof to a control arm 66 pivotally mounted upon the rod 6|. The control arm 66 is provided with a tightening screw 61 receiving the thumb nut 68 for securing the arm 66 in any desired position, the tightening screw 61 extending through an arcuate slot 69 provided in the frame member 62 whereby rotation of the arm 66 about the pivot shaft 6| will cause the wire bale 65 to move around the pivot shaft 6| to change the tension loop 10, see Figure 12, of the paper and carbon web for regulating the degree of tension thereon.

The rods 6| are of themselves adjustably transversely of the gluing mechanism I5 to provide small and accurate transverse adjustment of the collars 64 to accurately position the paper webs in proper vertical register. The rods 6| have a threaded end '|I threadedly received by the frame member 42, see Figure 15, whereby rotation of the rod 6| will cause the same to move transversely of the gluing mechanism. A locking collar I2 is provided on the opposite threaded end 13 of the rod 6| for locking the same in position.

The aligning and intermittently feeding mechanism 20, which also incorporates the driving mechanism for the machine, consists of a frame structure 14 having a table top I5 over which the collated paper webs 23 and carbon webs 24a pass when being fed by the feeding mechanism 26.

The power mechanism, or driving mechanism, consists of an electric motor I6, preferably of the variable speed type, suitably mounted upon the frame structure I4, see Figures 1, 2 and 7. A pulley I1 is secured to the shaft of the motor 16 and drives a pulley 18 mounted upon the drive amazon *7 I shaft 19 which carries a pinion gear 80? for driving the spur gear 8I secured to the power shaft 82. The power shaft 82 carries Br crank arm 33 to which a connecting rod 84 is suitably attached having one end thereof carried by the crank pin 85 that is adjustably positioned: in the crank by means of the adjusting. block 86. and. the; adlu ting screw 8'! whereby the stroke of the crank pin 85 relative to the power shaft 82 is regulated. The opposite end of the connecting rod: 84 is connnected to an oscillating arm 80 by meansiofa pin 89, the oscillating arm 88 being pivotally secured to the frame 14 by means of the bearing; pin 00, see Figure 1. The upper end of the oscillating arm 88 carries the driving mechanism to be hereinafter described, for driving the feed chain 02 intermittently for intermittently moving the collated webs passing across the table l5.

The power or driving mechanism is provided with a braking device that is adapted to quickly stop the operation of the driving mechanism in case of diificulty with the paper webs passing; through the machine, such as brakage or: otherv conditions. The driving motor 70 is providedwith a brake wheel 200, see Figs. 24 and 25, that is mounted upon the drive shaft of the electric motor The brake wheel 200 is adaptedto-be; engaged by a brake member Z JI that is carried upon one end of a brake lever 202 that is pivotally mounted upon the bracket secured to the frame of the machine by means of the pin 204. The brake lever 202 carries a. switch 205 that is of the mercury type. for controlling operation of the electric motor it.

The brake lever 202 carries a bracket 206- that is provided with a latch member 201 extending transversely thereof. A compression spring 208 engages the head 209 of the latch member 200.- for normally urging it in a rightward direction as viewed in Figure to thereby extend the.

head 209 of the latch member 201 beyond the side wall of the bracket 206. The opposite end of the latch member 201 carries a pin 2I0 that is engaged by one end of a bell-crank lever 2| I that is pivotally mounted upon the pin 2-I21carried1 in a bracket 2I3 secured to the brake lever 202 by means of the arm 2I4.

The brake lever 202 is provided with a foot pedal portion 2I5 adapted to be-engaged by the operators foot to depress the same and thereby cause the brake member 20I to engage the brake wheel 200 to stop the motor 16 whenever trouble occurs on the machine, the mercury switch 205 at that time opening the power lines 2 IE.

When the brake lever 202 is. pressed down r wardly, as viewed in Figure 24, the latch member 209 is adapted to engage a latch strike 220; to thereby hold the lever 202 in a downward position with the brake member 20I against the brake. wheel 200, the latch head 209 passing under the strike 220 and being retained by the ledge 22I-.

When the machine is to be'start'ed after opera? tion of the brake mechanism, the bell-crank lever 2II is operated to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 25;, to remove the latch head 209 from beneath the strike 2-20 and thereby permit the spring 222 to pull the brake. lever 202 upwardly and releasethebrake20| from the brake wheel 200.

The power shaft 82 carries a pulley 93 that is drivingly connected with the pulley 94 by means of the belt 95, the pulley 94 providing the. drive connection for a variable speed drive pulley 95, that is connected through a belt 91 with the power pulley 93 which drives. the shaft 4I heretofore referred to through means of the bevel gears. 91 whereby the speed of feeding movement of: the paper webs 23a and the carbon webs 24acan becontrolled through the feeding rolls 2'! and 28am!- thereby regulate the length of the slack loops I00. provided; between the feeding device I0 and; the gluing mechanism I5. The drive pulley 9G is more specifically shown in cross section in, Figure 8 wherein the pulley is shown as being; constructed in two parts 56a and 96b, the part 96?; being secured to: the: power shaft IOI, and thepart 96a being keyed to the. shaft IOI by means. of the key I02 but slidable axially thereon. A compression spring I03 engages the hub of the pulley part 96a for constantly urging the same toward the pulley part 96b tending to cause the belt 91 to ride toward the outside of the groove; formed by the pulleyparts.

The. variablev speed power pulley 96 is carried upon an arm member I04 that can oscillate about a stationary pivot bearing I05 carried on the frame member I06. of the frame structure 14.. The arm I04 carries the bearing member I01 for the shaft I0-I whereby oscillation of the arm I04 about the pivot bearing I 05 causesv the pulley 96 to thusv change the driving speed of thefeed rails 28 of the feeding mechanism ID to regulate the. slack loop length I00;

'I'ov adjust the: tension on the belt I08. between. the driving pulleys 93 and 94, see Figure 7, the

: pulley shaft IOI, see. Figure 8, is carried in an eccentric bearing member I00 that is' positioned in the bearing support member I01 whereby rotation of the eccentric bearing member I09 will cause an increase or decrease in the axial distance between the-:pulleys 93 and 94, whereby the tension on the belt I08 can be adjusted. A set screw H0 is provided in the bearing block [01' to secure the eccentric bearing member in a position after proper adjustment has been made.

To regulate the speed of the drive pulley 98', as hereinbefore referred to, the arm I04 is oscillated about the pivot bearing I05 by means of a threaded rod III, see Figures 1 and 2, that threadedly receives a block II2 having a pin III therein engaging? the slot H4 in the arm I04, whereby rotation of the shaft III axially moves the block I'I2' to cause the pin 3- to move the arm' I04. A suitable manual control H5 is provided for rotating the threaded rod III.

The intermittent feeding and aligning mechanism for advancing the collated webs in predetermined increments of length consists of a; sprocket chain I16; see' Figures 2, 3 and 4, that is supported by means of a plurality of sprocket wheels I I'Tto form a' closed circuit with a portion of the. sprocket chain. I I 6 positioned adjacent the table 15. The sprocket chain II6 carries a plurality of pins II8 that engage the holes 22' pro.- vided in the paper webs along one edge thereof -to thereby advance the collated paper webs through the machine. It will be understood from the foregoing description that the paper and carbon webs are collated by the feeding mechanism I0 and glue is applied to one side of certain of the paper webs when passing through the gluing mechanism I5 so that when the collated paper webs arrive at the aligning mechanism 20, the glue is still in a wet condition so that the pins II8 tend. to align the adjacent paper webs by tengagement withthe holes 22,. and prevent these!"- lated webs from slipping relatively to each other when being fed through the feeding mechanism in intermittent and predetermined advancing motions. The length of each advancing motion of the chain I I6 determines the length of the collated paper webs that are advanced to the shearing device 25 and thereby controls the length or width of the multiple copy form set that is being produced.

Mechanism for regulating the intermittent advancement of the feed chain III; is more specifically shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the oscillating arm 88, heretofore described, carries a pawl I I9 pivotally mounted upon an arm I29 secured to the arm 88 by means of a pivot pin I2 I. The pawl H9 is provided with a tail I22 that engages a stop pin I23 that is also secured to the arm I29. A tension spring I24 is positioned between a pin I25 carried upon the pawl H9 and 'a stationary pin I25 secured to the arm I29 so that the pawl H9 normally tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as Viewed in Figure 3, to retain the tail I22 of the pawl II9 against the stop pin I23.

The nose of the pawl H9 is provided with an arcuate recess for engaging pins I28 secured to the sprocket chain H6 at regular spaced intervals.

It will thus be seen that when the arm 88 moves in a rightward direction as viewed in Figure 3, that the pawl II9 will engage a pin I28 on the sprocket chain I IE tocause the chain I28 and the chain connected thereto to move in a rightward direction. The length of the movement in a rightward direction of the arm 88 is controlled by the stroke of the crank pin 85 so that the pin I28 and the chain H will thus be moved in a rightward direction a predetermined distance.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the pawl II9 operates on thelower half of the chain II6, which when moved in a rightward direction as just described, causes the upper half of the chain II5 to move in a leftward direction and thereby advance the collated paper webs toward the shearing mechanism a predetermined distance.

Since the chain I I6 travels at a relatively high rate of speed when paper is being fed thereby, it will be appreciated that the chain IIB would have a tendency to coast at the end of each intermittent motion thereof which would thereby prevent accurate predetermined movement of the collated paper webs and thus prevent severance of the webs at a predetermined location upon each advancing movement thereof.

To eliminate any overthrow condition of the chain I IS, a releasable stop I39 is positioned adjacent the end of the stroke of the pawl II9. This releasable stop consists of an L-shaped lever pivoted upon a pin I3! that is secured to a bracket I32 slidably mounted upon the guide rails I33 to permit positioning of the releasable stop I39 at any position along the length of the machine. One end of the L-shaped lever is retained against a stop pin I34 secured to the bracket I32 by means of a tension spring I35 that extends between a pin I36 on the lever I3I and a stationary pin I3! on the bracket I32, thereby tending to rotate the releasable stop I39 in a counterclockwise direction to hold the same in position as shown in Figure 3.

It will thus be seen that the releasable stop I39 may be freely rotated in a clockwise direction, when the mechanism is as positioned in Figure 3, and that it will always be returned to 10 the position illustrated in Figure 3 by the spring I35.

However, when the chain I I6 moves in a rightward direction carried by the pin I28 and the pin I28 reaches the end of its rightward stroke, as viewed in Figure 3, the stop I39 must not rotate in a clockwise direction. Thus, the pawl I I9 is provided with an arcuate surface I38 along the lower edge thereof that rides upon the fiat surface I39 of the stop I39 so that when the mechanism is in the position as illustrated in Fi ure 4, the pin I28 will be positively locked between the pawl I I9 and the stop I39. As soon as the pawl 2 I9 is retracted, or moved to the left, to start a new stroke and engages the next pin I28 in regular sequence, the pin I28 that has been moved against the stop I39 can rotate the same clockwise to permit free movement of the chain H8 in a rightward direction. It will be apparent that the pawl II9, being pivotally mounted for clockwise rotation will pass under the pins I28 when returning to its initial starting position upon each stroke of operation.

The collated paper webs are fed toward the severing or cutting device 25 which reciprocates once for each revolution of the crank pin so that the movement of the cutting mechanism is synchronized with the operation of the feeding mechanism for the paper webs, the length of web fed by the feeding mechanism 29 determining the point at which the web will be severed. A suitable driving mechanism for the cutting mechanism 25 oonsists of a power shaft I49 driven by the power shaft 92 for rotating an eccentric I4I which reciprocates the knife head I42.

The glue wheels 59, previously mentioned, driven by the sprocket chain 56, see Figure 9, are rotated only when paper webs are moving through the machine. During the idle stroke of the paper feeding mechanism as controlled by the arm 88, the chain 56 is moved in a reverse direction to its feeding movement but the glue wheels are not rotated. For this purpose the ratchet mechanism 51 is adapted to drive the shaft 55 only when the lower half of the chain 59, as viewed in Figure 9, is moved in a rightward direction by the oscillating arm I44. The arm I44 is arranged parallel to the arm 88 and is oscillated therewith so that the chains 56 and H9 move simultaneously during the feeding stroke of the arm 88. During the retraction stroke the chain H9 is stationary but the chain 59 is moved in a, reversed direction. The arm I44 has a slot I45 that engages a pin I46 on the chain 56 whereby it is reciprocated upon oscillation of the arm I44.

The sprocket shaft M1 is adapted to drive the sprocket chain I59 through a ratchet mechanism I5I whereby the chain I59 is driven only when the arm I44 is moving in a leftward direction, whereby the chain I59 is driven when the web feeding chain H6 is idle, whereby a stacking mechanism driven by the sprocket chain I59 will operate during the idle period of the feeding mechanism 29.

The stacking mechanism is illustrated in Figures 1'7, 18 and 19 wherein the power sprocket chain I59 drives a sprocket wheel I52 for driving the sprocket chain I53. The sprocket chain I53 carries a plurality of paper gripping members I54 that are adapted to receive the forward edge of the paper web passing from the feeding mechanism 29 and to remove the same into a stack after the knife 25a of the cutting device has severed a length of the web therefrom. The sprocket wheels I52 and I55 of the stacking mechanism 11 are carried upon a frame structure I56 pivoted about the drive shaft I 19 for the sprocket wheel I52. The sprocket chain I53 extends over a receiving box I51 that has a movable platform or floor I58 that moves downwardly as form sets are introduced into the receiving box.

The floor I58 of the receiving box I51 is adapted to be carried between a pair of sprocket chains I59, each of which is positioned on opposite sides of the floor I 58, suitable hooks or pins being provided to carry the floor I58 on the sprocket chains I59. The sprocket chain I59 is driven by a sprocket wheel I60 that is in turn driven by a shaft I6! co-operating with a worm I 62 and a worm wheel I63 that are driven by a sprocket chain I64 that is in turn driven by a suitable sprocket carried upon the drive shaft I49, The floor I58 is thus gradually lowered through the driving mechanism just described when the chain I53 is driven in a manner heretofore described. The paper gripping members I54, see Figure 20, are suitably carried upon one of the links of the sprocket chain I53 and are provided with a leaf spring finger adapted to engage a stationary finger I66 to bind a paper sheet between the fingers. A cam member I61 carried upon the shaft I68 is positioned adjacent each of the drive chains I 53 so that when the paper gripping members I 54 are positioned as shown in Figure 1'7, the pin I69 will engage the cam I61 to cause the finger I65 to move out of engagement with the fingers I66.

As previously stated the stacking mechanism operates when the paper web in the aligning mechanism is stationary and vice versa. As illustrated in Figure 17 the stacking mechanism is in the position which occurs just after the collated paper web has been advanced a predeter mined increment of length and the severing mechanism 25 has operated the knife 25a to sever a length of web from the continuous web. The paper feeding mechanism is then ready to move on a retraction stroke which will result in operation of the stacking mechanismthrough operation of the arm IM in the'manner heretofore referred to so that the severed length of web 110 will be advanced by the stacking mechanism to deposit the same in the receiving box I51. 'The pin I69 of the paper gripping mechanism 154 permits the finger I65 to clamp upon the severed length of web I as soon as the stackingrmechanism begins movement. The severed length of web I10 will strike the rear wall I1I of the 'receiving box I 51 and be withdrawn from the paper gripping device I54 and will fall by gravity .upon

the floor I58, By the end of the'retractionstroke of the'arms 88 and I44 another grippingmem'ber will be in the position illustrated in Figure 17 ready toreceive'another severed paper web when it is advanced by the feeding mechanism 20.

.In order to prevent the paper webs Cfrom lifting from the table when the pins IIB ion the chains I I6 are brought into engagement with .the holes .22 in the paper webs, guide brackets or plates I12 are positioned above the table 15. These guide :plates I12 are positioned in spaced parallel arrangement so that .the pins I.I:8 Lean passfreely therebetween and are spaced upwardlyfrorn the table 15 to permit thecollated paper webs to Pass beneath the same and yet retain them in engagement with the pins .8. The guide plates I12 may be adjustably mounted .on the table 15 by means of the brackets I13.

A stripper plate I14 is provided at one end of the table 15, as illustrated in Figure 2, to lift the collated paper webs from the pins I I8 before they '12 pass around the end sprocket wheel II1 to thereby prevent the pins from tearing the holes 22 in the paper webs.

In Figure 14 there is illustrated a driving arrangement for the "rolls or rods 45 and 48 of the gluing mechanism previously referred to in Figure '12. In someinstances it may be necessary to drive these rolls in order to make the machine run as lightly and freely as possible. In this instance the outer ends of the rolls 48 and 45 are provided with sprocket wheels I15 and I16 that are driven by the sprocket chains I 11 and I 18, respectively, a sprocket chain I19 interconnecting the sprocket drive from the sprockets I16 to the sprockets I15, a power chain I being provided for supplying power to the sprockets I16.

The apparatus as hereinbefore described has been described principally in production of a multiple copy form of the type illustrated in Figure 11. In this type of form the width of the continuous web controls the length of the form and the length of the continuous web fed by the feeding mechanism 20 controls the width of the form. In Figure 22 there is illustrated a continuous paper web, or rather a collated Web of a type that is adapted to be split longitudinally along the center line, such as along the dot dash line I8! whereby two forms of the type illustrated in Figure 11 can'be produced simultaneously. In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 22, four glue lines I82, I83, I84 and I85 will be applied upon the paper webs in the manner heretofore described and positioned longitudinally along the center of the web as illustrated in Figure 22. Two carbon paper webs will be placed side by side and extendin parallel arrangement longitudinalhr of the paper webs so that each carbon webwill be secured by an :individual glue line I82 or I85. The paper webs will be secured together by the two glue lines I83 and I84. Thus, when thecollated web is severed along the dot dash line I8I two forms of the type illustrated in Figure 11 will be produced. The slitting mechanism I may be positioned just ahead of the severing or cutting device 25 so that a slit I86 will be produced in the collated web just before it is severed. The slitting mechanism I90 may consist of a pair of rotating slitting wheels I81 and I88 supported upon the shafts I89 and I9I, respectively. The

, slitting wheel I81 is driven by a sprocket chain I92 through a shaft I93, a chain I94, a shaft I95 and a pair of spur gears I96, while the wheel I88 is driven by the sprocket chain I92, the shaft I93, the chain I91, the shaft I98 and the chain I99. The slitting mechanism I90 has the slitting Wheels I88 and I81 extending through the table 15 and'may be rotated at any desired speed from any of the rotating drivemembers of the collating machine.

While the apparatus dis-closed and described herein constitutes a preferred form of the invention, yet it will be understood that the apparatus capable of. mechanical alteration with out departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having-thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collating machine comprising, means for withdrawing a plurality of paper webs from supply rolls and for advancing the same toward an adhesive applying mechanism, an adhesive applying mechanism for receiving the paper webs and applying adhesive to at least some of them whereby to cause adherence between the webs, and a feeding and aligning mechanism for intermittently moving determined lengths of the webs toward a shearing device, said feeding and aligning mechanism including @a flexible belt having means for engaging the paper webs to advance the same upon movement of the belt, reciprocating means for intermittently moving said belt in determined increments of movement, and stop means engaged by said reciprocating means at the end of each determined movement thereof for feeding the paper webs whereby to temporarily lock said belt against movement in either direction and thereby accurately position the belt at the end of each feeding stroke of the reciprocating means.

2. A collating machine comprising, means for withdrawing a plurality of paper webs from supply rolls and for advancing the same toward an adhesive applying mechanism, an adhesive applying mechanism for receiving the aper webs and applying adhesive to at least some of them whereby to cause adherence between the webs, and a feeding and aligning mechanism for intermittently moving determined lengths of the webs toward a shearing device, said feeding and aligning mechanism including a flexible belt having means for engaging the paper webs to advance the same upon movement of the belt, reciprocating means for moving said belt in determined increments of movement and including a latch member for drivingly engaging said belt in one direction only of said reciprocating means, and releasable stop means engaged by said latch memher at the end of the web feeding stroke thereof to temporarily lock the belt against movement in either direction and thereby accurately control the stopping position of the belt upon each movement thereof.

3. A collating machine comprising, means for withdrawing a plurality of paper webs from supply rolls and for advancing the same toward an adhesive applying mechanism, an adhesive applying mechanism for receiving the paper Webs and applying adhesive to at least some of them whereby to cause adherence between the webs, and a feeding and aligning mechanism for intermittently moving determined lengths of the webs toward a shearing device, said feeding and aligning mechanism including a flexible belt having means for engaging the paper webs to advance the same upon movement of the belt, driving means movable longitudinally of said belt in a reciprocating motion for moving said belt in one direction only and including latch means for engaging pin means extending from said belt whereby to drive said belt therethrough, and releasable stop means engaged by said latch means at the end of the web feeding stroke thereof to temporarily lock said p-in means between said latch means and said stop to thereby positively locate said pin means in a determined position at the end of each web feeding stroke.

4. A collating machine comprising, means for withdrawing a plurality of paper webs from supply rolls and for advancing the same toward an adhesive applying mechanism, an adhesive applying mechanism for receiving the paper webs and applying adhesive to at least some of them whereby to cause adherence between the webs, and a feeding and aligning mechanism for intermittently moving determined lengths of the webs toward a shearing device, said feeding and aligning mechanism including a flexible belt having means for engaging the paper webs to advance the same upon movement of the belt, driving means movable longitudinally of said belt in a reciprocating motion for moving said belt in one direction only and including latch means for engaging pin means extending from said belt whereby to drive said belt therethrough, and releasable stop means spring actuated to position the same to stop movement of said pin means upon engagement thereof by said latch means whereby to lock said pin means between the stop means and said latch means, said stop means being movable by said pin means when said latch means is out of engagement thereof to permit a subsequent web feeding stroke of said belt by said latch means.

5. A feeding mechanism for a paper web that includes the combination of, a flexible belt having means for engaging paper Web to advance the same, pin means extending from the belt for engagement by driving means whereby to move the belt, driving means movable longitudinally of the belt in a reciprocating motion for driving the same and including latch means for engaging said pin means in one direction of movement only of said driving means whereby said belt is moved in one direction only by the reciprocating motion of the driving means, and releasable stop means engaged by the pin means as moved thereagainst by the latch means at the end of the longitudinal movement thereof as caused by the driving means whereby to temporarily lock said pin means between said stop means and said latch means and thereby prevent movement of said belt in either direction at the end of the web feeding stroke thereof.

6. A feeding mechanism for a paper web that includes the combination of, a flexible belt having means for engaging a paper web to advance the same, pin means extending from the belt for engagement by driving means whereby to move the belt, driving means movable longitudinally of the belt in a reciprocating motion for driving the same and including latch means for engaging said pin means in one direction of movement only of said driving means whereby said belt is moved in one direction only by the reciprocating motion of the driving means, and releasable stop means spring actuated to posi tion the same for engagement by said pin means when moved thereagainst by said latch means, said stop means including means engaged by said latch means when said pin means engages said stop means to prevent movement of said stop means and thereby lock said pin means between said stop means and said latch means.

'7. A collating machine comprising, a feeding mechanism for withdrawing paper webs from supply rolls, a feeding and aligning mechanism for intermittently moving the paper webs toward a shearing device, and a driving mechanism for the aforesaid mechanisms consisting of crank means drivingly connected to a power source .and operated thereby, an oscillating arm drivingly connected to said feeding and aligning mechanism, a connecting rod interconnecting said oscillating arm and said crank arm for thereby moving said oscillating arm in direct proportion to the eccentric stroke of said crank arm, a changeable speed pulley carried upon an oscillatable arm, means drivingly connecting said pulley with said power source, belt means drivingly connecting said pulley to said feeding mechanism for withdrawing paper webs from the supply rolls, and means for oscillating said last smentioned-arm :whereby to change the-effective ,pulley diameter of said changeable speed pulley iupon'the belt means moving thereover for-chang- :ing the speed of operation of said web withdrawing feeding means.

8. A feeding mechanism for a paper web that includes the combination of, ,a flexible belt havling means for engaginga paper web to advance the same, means extending :fromthe belt for en- ,gagem ent by driving means whereby to move the belt, driving means movable longitudinally of the belt in a reciprocating motion for driving the same and including latch means for engaging said first named means in one direction of movement only of said driving means whereby said belt is moved in one direction only by the reciprocating motion of the driving means, and releasable stop means engaged by the first named :means as moved thereagainst by the latch means rat the end of the longitudinal movement there- 'ro'f as caused by the driving means whereby to temporarily lock said first named means be- :tween said stop means and said latch means 'and thereby prevent movement of said belt in :either direction eat 'ithe end of the web feeding stroke thereof.

ROBERT W. RITZERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

